Anthony Smith just submitted Alexander Gustafsson in the fourth round of the UFC Stockholm main event.

UFC Stockholm was the setting where the company’s #4 ranked light heavyweight Anthony Smith choked out the #2 ranked Alexander Gustafsson in the fourth round. Smith got ahead early with his boxing, but Gustafsson began to steal back the momentum in the third and fourth rounds with his kicks. Off of a botched takedown in the fourth act, Smith was able to land on top and ultimately take the back. His control proved to be too much for Gustafsson to shake loose. Smith wrapped up the neck and sniffed out the tap, solidifying himself as one of the true elites at 205-pounds.

What was the highlight of the fight?

The highlight of the fight had to have been Smith controlling from the back and sinking the choke. When you think of Anthony Smith, ‘ground-game’ isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. He’s much better known for knocking ninjas out. What he just did to Gustafsson, stuffing the takedown to back take to control to submission, was a coming out party for Smith’s grappling skills. With a highlight reel full of KO’s, proving himself as one of the light heavyweight elites by way of submission makes this one extra special.

Where do these two go from here?

Anthony Smith is sitting in a great position. He made it to the ranks at middleweight, but made it to title contender at 205-pounds. That means there are plenty of fresh fights out there for Smith. His two most recent losses came to Jon Jones and Thiago Santos, who are slated to face one another for the belt at UFC 239 on July 6, 2019. The winner or loser of that matchup makes a lot of sense for Smith. There are up and comers on the rise that could pose interesting challenges for Smith, such as Dominick Reyes or UFC Stockholm competitor Aleksandar Rakic.

As for Alexander Gustafsson, in his post-fight interview, he stated that the show was over, and then placed his gloves on the Octagon floor, as if to retire. Is this it? Could this be the last we’ve seen of “The Mauler?” Who has a tougher time staying retired than an MMA fighter? There’s a chance we will never see Gustafsson compete in pro MMA again, but hey, there’s also a good chance we will. Perhaps one day he will return, and maybe even at heavyweight. He’s put up classics with GOATS Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, and a perfect world would re-run those matches up a division.

Watch now, later, or never?

This fight was a lot of fun. The momentum shifted from Smith and then back to him. The best part is the definitive ending. This was a regular ol’ rear-naked choke. Basic technique with minimal flash. Don’t miss a family function to watch it, but make sure you catch it as soon as you get a second.